BIRMINGHAM RECORD COLLECTORS
DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTING OF MUSIC, ITS PRESERVATION, AND LASTING FRIENDSHIP
MONTHLY MEETING THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13th, 2016
2:00 PM HOMEWOOD LIBRARY – 1721 OXMOOR ROAD 35209
NEXT MEETING SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11th, 2016 THE SECOND SUNDAY
THIS MONTH’S MEETING
A few months back we had a program on instrumentals that Max did for us. He was asked to do a part 2 so he will be playing some more of his favorites for us this Sunday. If you were there last time you know how good it was and if you missed it, here’s another chance to hear some great music without all those lyrics getting in the way. Don’t miss it.
Last month, Bob presented his ‘Radio Hero’ program outlining the history of black radio in the Birmingham area. He forgot to pass out a handout and asked me to add it to this newsletter. Here ’tis:
STUDY NOTES- Produced by Four Octave Productions for the BBRM Project
Small pieces of a larger picture. Points of departure for future research.
EARLY RADIO STATIONS WITH SOME HISTORY OF BLACK PROGRAMMING
Founding dates refer to station names, not inception of frequency.
WSGN 610 1934 – 1985
WJLD 1400 1942 –
WEDR 1220 1949 – 1960
WVOK 690 1949 – 1992 (now an Anniston station at a different frequency)
WEZB 1320 1953 – 1958*
WBCO 1450 1951 – 1957 *
WENN 1320 1958 – 1983 *, **
WEUP 1600 1958 – ****
* – WEZB and WBCO swap frequencies. WENN emerges.
** – current WENN 1320 has no relation to the historic WENN
*** – WEUP still broadcasting in Huntsville, primarily as an FM
**** – The Garretts made history when they testified before a congressional committee in 1963, the outcome of which resulted in the change of a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) law regulating 24-hour broadcasts in the 1960s. That same year WEUP began 24-hour broadcasts, yet another milestone for urban radio.
Source:http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Broadcasting_Yearbook_Summary_of_Editions_Page.htm
Four Octave Productions
Contact: Bob Friedman
Project Director
Birmingham Black Radio Museum
bob@thebbrm.org Call 205-902-9487 for “A Radio Hero” booking information
At the December meeting we will once again do our now famous ‘Dirty Santa’ game. Bring a wrapped gift of some sort, funny, nice, small, large, it doesn’t matter, and participate in this fun time. If you just want to watch that works also. Just be there. December will also be the last meeting snacks will be provided. Tom will provide the snacks for the December meeting and it ought to be good.
MG: A SPORTS CAR OR A CITY?
Continuing to look at some of the more prominent session groups at recording studios during the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, I have to ask question – MG’s – is that from a sports car or a city? Booker T and the MG’s had many of their own records released but began as the house band at Stax Records in Memphis. Some stories existed about the MG standing for ‘Memphis Group’ while others said it stood for the MG car. We’ll find out more about that in a minute.
Keyboardist Booker T Jones, along with guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Lewie Steinberg, and drummer Al Jackson, Jr went to the Stax Records studio to back up former Sun recording artist Billy Lee Riley when during some down time the guys began jamming and Stax president, Jim Stewart, liking what he was hearing began recording what they were doing. A riff that Cropper remembered Booker T had done earlier soon worked into a second track.
Jim Stewart wanted to release the A side as the song ‘Behave Yourself’ but Cropper and and a local radio DJ thought the B side, ‘Green Onions’ should be released. Cropper remembers that WLOK DJ, Reuben Washington played ‘Green Onions’ four times in succession and made it a local favorite even before the song or the band had a name. Before long the band had a name, the song had a title and ‘Green Onions ‘ was was the A side and went to # 1 on the US Billboard R&B chart.
The band would record other songs under their band name but only 2 of them would break the top 10. The guys biggest success and contribution to early rock history would be their time spent as the sessions players at Stax. Backing performers such as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave (‘play it, Steve’), Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, Eddie Floyd, The Staple Singers, Delaney & Bonnie and many more. Detroit had it’s Motown Sound and what would be known as ‘Hitsville, USA’, but Memphis, because of Stax Record Studio would be known as ‘Soulsville, USA’.
Over the years the lineup would stay intact except for Lewie Steinberg. He left the band in 1965 after their second LP. He was replaced by Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn. Dunn was with the band until his death in 2012. Drummer Al Jackson was murdered in 1975 and several drummers would be used including Willie Hall, Anton Fig, Steve Jordan, and Steve Potts. There were a few times when Booker T was away from the band so a writer and producer by the name of Issac Hayes would take his place during session work. The only recording released as the MG’s that Hayes played on was their hit, ‘Boot-Leg’. Those times Booker T was away was for a very good reason. He was studying music at Indiana State University. I don’t know if another recording ‘star’ during the 50’s and 60’s would miss work at the studio because they were off at college. That’s dedication.
By the way, you might remember some of the bnd members in a movie called ‘The Blues Brothers’. Steve Cropper, Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn, along with drummer Willie Hall played along side Belushi and Aykroyd as they ‘put the band back together’ while on a mission from God.
So, was it a car or a city? The publicity department of Stax said it was the city but Chips Moman, who worked at Stax when the band was formed said the guys were named after his sports car. It was after he left that the publicity department began their version. Moman had played with Booker T and Steinberg in a band earlier that was named the Triumphs, again named after his car. So I would put my money on the fact that the group was named after a car. Whatever, they sure left us with some of the best music of the 1960’s and bring back many great me memories. Thanks, guys.
UPCOMING RECORD SHOWS
Charlotte, NC – Nov 12. 10 am – 4 pm (eastern). $2 admission. Springhill Suites Ballantyne 13235 Johnston RD 28277.
Raleigh, NC – Nov 13. 10 am – 4 pm (eastern). $2 admission. Holiday Inn, Crabtree Valley. 4100 Glenwood Ave. 27612.
Spartanburg, SC – Nov 19. 10 am – 4 pm (eastern). $3 admission. Spartanburg Memorial Aud. 385 North Church St. 29303
For more info call Greg at 704-996-9945 for these events.
BRC RADIO – HEART AND SOUL OF ROCK AND ROLL
Don’t forget to check out the radio shows the club offers on our website. We now have over 90 shows with over 1500 different songs.
HEY! HAVE YOU HEARD THIS ONE?
Dean And Jean
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HEARD THIS HIT?
Earl-Jean
See ya,
Charlie